Slide scanner

[Tomsk]

am I right in thinking all the dedicated ones are for just 35mm film?

Yes. IIRC Nikon used to (maybe still do) make ones that could scan upto 5x4" negs. Minolta used to make some (like my dinosaur) that could accept APS.

Any consumer priced flatbed will be quoting their maximum interpolated resolution. Quite often the real resolution will only be something like 600 x 2400 dpi. The 2400 dpi is from the scanning element. The 600 dpi is from the mechanism that moves the element.

If your dad is a keen photographer and wants to archive his entire collection a dedicated film scanner is the way to go. Of course he would need to invest in some extra storage and backup solution. If all he wants to do is catalogue and print some of his collection then any scanner will do.

 

[dtokez]

Thanks Tomsk. I think they will be archived but more than likely a fair few printed also.

I'm swinging towards the CanoScan 5600F although it will never be used as a conventional scanner but I've read some good reviews of it, fair price and I will be able to get it before next monday

 

[dtokez]

Epson V330 - looks like an option at about £85. Decisions hmmm

 

[BusError]

You can try to get a second hand one too, or a refurb. I used a "cheap" 4490 for quite some time and it was still doing the job very well. Heck, I /gave/ it away, couldn't even sell it.

BTW some years back I made a tutorial on how to exploit the maximum out of a flatbed scanner when scanning B&W, I (and a few others) still use that method today... http://oomz.net/bw_workflow/